Trauma comes in all forms, from near-death experiences to unexpected loss. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk uses recent scientific discoveries to reveal how trauma doesn’t just impact the mind, but also the body. According to van der Kolk, trauma can compromise the sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. In his #1 New York Times bestselling book, “The Body Keeps the Score,” he explores treatment methods that help activate the brain’s natural neuroplasticity in trauma patients. More than an achievement in neuroscience, “The Body Keeps the Score” is a way for readers to potentially find their way through the depths of trauma with unique approaches to therapy like yoga and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. The book has garnered the interest and praise of many in neuroscience and psychology.
Abuse can come in the form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse that impacts men, women, and nonbinary people. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women experience abuse by a romantic partner while 1 in 5 women experience rape. The statistics are striking and leave organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source estimating that 20 people in the U.S. are abused by an intimate partner every minute. With abuse being a saddening but common experience among women, it’s likely you or someone you know has experienced some type of intimate partner violence. Workbooks like “Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Women’s Workbook” help to provide a gentle approach to healing and recovery. The book can apply to women who experienced trauma as a child or adult, and aims to introduce readers to problem-solving and self-advocacy strategies to rebuild self-esteem and heal. The methodology was developed by Maxine Harris and clinicians at Community Connections, a non-profit mental health agency in Washington, D.C.
Books to Help Us do the Work
Catherine Gray is a journalist who has personally dealt with alcohol addiction. Throughout Gray’s book, “The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober,” she discusses her experience with addiction and recovery, shares scientific facts, and brings in expert insight that can be applied to all types of addiction. She dives into the darker days of her life, then shines a light on her path to sobriety and all of the unexpected joys that came along with it. The overall goal is to relay the message that there are many benefits of being completely sober or even just cutting back on your alcohol consumption. Gray isn’t a mental health professional but her experience may help readers feel less alone in their struggles.
Do you ever feel like a prisoner to your thoughts? If you can’t seem to snuff out the flames of intrusive thoughts, there’s a book for that. Intrusive thoughts can sometimes feel like a gnat you can’t seem to keep away. At other times, they may feel like an avalanche that sends you into a panic.
In “Hope and Help for Your Nerves,” Dr. Claire Weekes provides step-by-step guidance on how to understand and mitigate your symptoms of anxiety. She uses her own experience and scenarios from pioneering work in psychiatry to provide a clear-cut path to help readers find their own power.
Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb was used to being the therapist in the room until she experienced a crisis that led her to change roles and sit on the therapy couch. In the New York Times bestselling memoir, “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,” Gottlieb takes readers through life as a therapist seeking therapy. The book follows the therapy sessions of her clients at her Los Angeles-based practice, including the lessons she learns from them and the progress they’ve made along the way. When Gottlieb experiences an unexpected breakup, she finds herself seeking out therapy from Wendell and getting a taste of what it’s like to be a client.
“Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” sprinkles in humor and honesty as Gottlieb shares her perspective as a practitioner and patient. Through her words, readers will be left with wisdom and hope about the human condition we all share. If you’re nervous about seeing a therapist, this book will help you see sessions through a counselor’s eyes and understand they are human just like you.
What if getting over burnout was easier than we imagined? Sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, are on a mission to end burnout by helping readers understand how to unlock the biological stress cycle. Their book, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle,” has set out to explain why women experience burnout differently from men, how to minimize the feeling, and how to manage emotions.
According to the book, burnout is emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of accomplishment. The authors share that just because you’ve handled a stressor in your life doesn’t mean you’ve completed a stress cycle, and getting stuck in that cycle can — you guessed it — cause burnout. Emily and Amelia Nagoski outline how to understand your body’s response to stress, close the loop of the stress cycle, and enact planful problem solving through thorough research and helpful worksheets.
Sarah Knight, a New York Times bestselling author of “Calm the F*** Down,” called “Burnout” the gold standard of self-help books. Some reviewers complained about the feminist principles that shine through the text, pop culture references, and conversational writing style. Overall, the book has garnered four stars on Goodreads since its debut, with a majority of happy readers.
Mark Wolynn has been recognized around the world as a leading expert on the subject of inherited family trauma. In his 2016 release, “It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle,” he dissects how the trauma of relatives can be passed down the family tree. Wolynn believes this trauma can cause depression, anxiety, phobias, and chronic pain despite it not happening directly to the reader. The highly reviewed book has shared therapy tactics and scientific research that therapists within the industry have applied with their own clients. Alexanndra Kreps, MD, was one professional who contributed a blurb on the informative work where she writes, “I found myself immediately able to apply Mark Wolynn’s techniques with my patients and saw incredible results, in a shorter time than with traditional psychotherapeutic techniques.” When approaching trauma, it is best to consult a mental health professional before diving into work that could be triggering. One Amazon reviewer cautioned, “I would say you have to be ready to face these things and it is most definitely not a light read.”
“Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find — and Keep — Love” explores the idea of attachment theory, a concept first introduced by British psychologist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby. While attachment theory has long dissected the impact that our early relationships with parents or caregivers have on who we become, the theory can be applied to our closest life relationships. Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine and psychologist Rachel Heller teamed up in “Attached” to provide a modern understanding of attachment theory and how it can help us find love. According to attachment theory, there are three common ways people behave in relationships depending on whether they are anxious, avoidant, or secure. By helping readers determine their own attachment style, the book helps readers navigate their relationships and understand themselves.
Author Elaine Aron, PhD, identifies as a highly sensitive person (HSP) and has been researching sensitivity for 20 years. She authored “The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You” and its subsequent counterparts, “The Highly Sensitive Person in Love” and “The Highly Sensitive Child.” While HSP sounds like buzzy therapy speak or an outlier in mental health, Aron says 15 to 20 percent of the population are highly sensitive. HSPs can feel overwhelmed by their physical surroundings like bright lights, crowded spaces, blaring sounds, and strong smells. They may avoid violent films out of fear of feeling too much, feel flustered by a busy schedule, and find themselves drained after too much socialization. While HSPs are often overstimulated, it isn’t all bad. Aron finds that they notice the minute details that add beauty and color to life. She feels sensitive people have the unusual ability to sense subtleties, avoid errors, and concentrate deeply. Aron uses case studies, self-tests, and exercises to help readers cope with their overarousal and overcome social discomfort. Rejoice in your sensitivity by using “The Highly Sensitive Person” to understand yourself and how this special trait impacts your personal life, love, and career.
“Loving Bravely” by Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is “my nearest and dearest for anyone wanting to find deep and meaningful relationships,” says Friedman. Friedman, who has worked through this book with clients and herself, finds that it “gently supports the reader to learn about themself and family in ways never considered.” The author believes that real love starts with you, and shares 20 lessons to help readers commit to their emotional well-being and growth. Solomon, a psychologist and relationship expert, introduces the idea of relational self-awareness. By understanding your own strengths and weaknesses in relationships, she feels you can build a better foundation to love yourself and others.
“Though the focus of this book is getting the love you want, the reader will ultimately learn that in order to get it from others, they will have to give it to themselves first. This book teaches you how to do that,” explains Friedman.
The book has long been touted as a favorite within the business world, often found on the shelves of executive teams and company founders. Covey’s book, which has been in print since 1989, has also continued to draw admiration in self-help communities. Of the book’s many lessons, it provides helpful principles for readers to find balance and prioritize areas of their life efficiently and helpfully. Covey helps readers find a sustainable balance in life, take on responsibilities proactively, set out end goals, negotiate in a way that benefits everyone, and work well with others. For those dealing with burnout or an inability to get organized, Covey’s tips could help signal a lightbulb to find a healthy routine and communicate effectively with others. The “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has sold over 20 million copies, with 88 percent of reviewers on Amazon giving it a perfect five stars. Some Goodreads reviews found that the book followed the self-care formula of many and the information was repetitive. Still, many reviewers call the book “transformative” and “life-changing.”